New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Dueripinkeye`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiens plant named `Dueripinkeye`, characterized by its rounded flowers that are white with a bright pink eye and faint radiating stripe on the upper most petal; high degree of floriferousness; freely branching plant habit; and dark green leaves with reddish overtones that contrast well with the flower color.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri, andhereinafter referred to by the name `Dueripinkeye`.

The new variety is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram is to develop New Guinea Impatiens that are freely branching;early flowering; and that have desirable flower and leaf colors.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of twoproprietary seedling selections of Impatiens hawkeri. `Dueripinkeye` wasdiscovered and selected in 1995 by the inventor as a single floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environmentin Rheinberg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by terminal cuttings taken atRheinberg, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this newvariety are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Dueripinkeye`. These characteristicsin combination distinguish `Dueripinkeye` as a new and distinct variety:

1. Rounded flowers that are white with a bright pink eye and fainterradiating stripe on the upper petal.

2. High degree of floriferousness.

3. Freely branching plant habit.

4. Dark green leaves with reddish overtones that contrast well with thewhite and pink flower color.

The new variety can be compared to the commercial variety `Samoa`(disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,422). However, in side-by-sidecomparisons conducted by the inventor in Rheinberg, Germany, plants ofthe new variety differed from plants of `Samoa`, in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new variety are taller than plants of `Samoa`.

2. Plants of the new variety have shorter leaves than plants of `Samoa`.

3. Leaves of plants of the new variety are dark green with reddish tonesin color whereas leaves of plants of `Samoa` are dark green.

4. Plants of the new variety are more floriferousness than plants of`Samoa`.

5. Plants of the new variety have slightly smaller flowers than plantsof `Samoa`.

6. The pink eye covers a larger area on flowers of plants of the newvariety than flowers of plants of `Samoa`.

7. Peduncles of plants of the new variety are shorter and stronger thanpeduncles of plants of `Samoa`. In addition, peduncles of plants of thenew variety are dark red whereas peduncles of plants of `Samoa` aregreen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new variety, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of `Dueripinkeye`grown in a 12-cm container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of `Dueripinkeye` have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingobservations and measurements describe plants grown in 12-cm containersduring the spring in Rheinberg, Germany, under commercial practice in aglass-covered greenhouse with day and night temperatures about 18° C.and light levels about 45 thousand lux.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri `Dueripinkeye`.

Parentage:

Male, or pollen, parent.--Proprietary seedling selection of Impatienshawkeri.

Female, or seed, parent.--Proprietary seedling selection of Impatienshawkeri.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--Summer: About 10 days at 22° C. Winter: About12 days at 22° C.

Time to develop roots.--Summer: About 21 days at 22° C. Winter: About 26days at 22° C.

Rooting habit.--Freely branching.

Plant Description:

General appearance.--Rounded; dense; very freely and basally branching;upright and spreading; moderate growth rate and vigor; suitable for 10to 16-cm pots.

Plant height.--About 21 cm from soil level to top of plant plane.

Lateral branches.--Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 5.1 mm.Internode length: About 6.5 cm. Color: 136A.

Foliage description.--Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About 14.Shape: Elliptic with acuminate tip and attenuate base. Length: About 7.8cm. Width: About 3.4 cm. Texture: Smooth, leathery and glabrous. Margin:Serrulate. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: 131A. Young foliage,lower surface: 187B. Mature foliage, upper surface: Dark green, 131A,with reddish, close to 185A, tones. Mature foliage, lower surface: 187C.Veins, upper surface: 187B. Veins, lower surface: 187B. Petiole: Length:About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2.1 mm. Color: 185A.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.--Freely flowering.

Natural flowering season.--Year-round. Plants flower about 8 weeks afterplanting.

Flowers borne.--Flower buds develop in apical leaf axils. Open flowersare displayed above the foliage.

Quantity of inflorescences.--Extremely floriferous; usually about 85buds and flowers per plant.

Flower shape.--Rounded and slightly cupped in aspect.

Flower diameter.--About 4.8 cm.

Flower depth (height).--About 5.8 mm.

Petals.--Shape: Reniform/cordate with emarginate apex and acute base.Quantity, arrangement: 5 petals overlapping. Aspect: Flat. Length: About2.6 cm. Width: About 2.7 cm. Texture: Smooth, satiny, and glabrous.Margin: Entire. Color: When opening, upper surface: White, 155D,background with bright pink, 64D/66D, eye with fainter radiating stripe,close to 66D, on the uppermost petal. When opening, lower surface:White, 155D, background with bright pink, 64D/66D, eye with fainterradiating stripe, close to 66D, on the uppermost petal. Fully opened,upper surface: White, 155D, background with bright pink, 64D/66D, eyewith fainter radiating stripe, close to 66D, on the uppermost petal.Fully opened, lower surface: White, 155D, background with bright pink,64D/66D, eye with fainter radiating stripe, close to 66D, on theuppermost petal.

Peduncle.--Angle: Erect. Length: About 3.8 cm. Color: 183B.

Flower bud.--Shape: Ovoid with spur. Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter:About 9.2 mm. Color: 63C.

Spur.--Shape: Needle-shaped, curved at end. Length: About 4.8 cm. Color:185B.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: 5. Anther shape: Oval.Anther size: About 4 mm. Anther color: 64C. Pollen color: 27B. Amount ofpollen: Moderate. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 3.9 mm. Style color:131A. Stigma color: 135A. Ovary color: 135B.

Disease resistance: No fungal, bacterial nor viral problems observed.

Seed development: Seed production is very rarely observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiensplant named `Dueripinkeye`, as illustrated and described.